The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-09-10
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
ALTITUDE AND LATITUDE.

ALTITUDE AND LATITUDE.
Heights, under the equator, from the sea to the
level of 1920 feet-that of perpetual snow-are
divided by Meyen into eight zones or regions,
which he names from the characteristic plants l,
palms and bananas, beginning at level; 2,
tree ferns and frs at 1920 feet; 3, myrtles and
laurels, 1850 feet; 4, evergreen dicotyledonous
trees, 6l20 feet; European dcotyledonous trees,
$500 feet 6, pines, TO- 14O feet Z, rhododendrous,
1850 feet; s, Alpine plants, 14,17O feet. The
corresponding zones in latitude at level, are
l, Equatorial, lat. O0-150; 2, Tropical, 1879;
8. Subtropical, 23o--34o; 4, Warm temperate, $40
49,; S, d-temperate, 1885, 6, Suharctic,
$3.50; Z, Arctic, 66o-7So; s, Polar, 1880.
Beyond 500 vegetation is supposed to be lacking
CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF BATHING.
BY experiments on dogs, NJ. E. Quiuquad finds
that cold baths increase tenfold the rate of con-
sumption of oxygen, double or trebleHhe quantity
of air passed through the lungs, augment the
amount of carbonc acid expelled, and very much
increase the respiratory combustions and the pro-
duction of blood-sugar Hot baths have like in
fuence, but in less degree.
AN ASTRONOMICAL PUZZLE.
One of the most mysterious and remarkable of
the changes witnessed in the solar system is the
variation in the brightness of Jupiter's moons.
Two OF tue -FOUR satelHteS occasionally cross the
planets disc dark objects, although their sunny
sides are presented to us, and should appear no
less brilliantly Illuminated than the planet itself.
The third and fourth satellites often make these
dark transits, and the first is sometimes seen as
brown object but the second has never been no.
ticed otherwise than as bright disc. During re-
cent months observations have been made of
quite number of dark transits of the fourth satel-
lite and very few of the third, but the cause of
the phenomenon remains without satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION.
KLEINER's ALUMINIUM PROCESS.
An electro chemical process of preparing alumni
num-quite distinct from the Cowes electric smell
ting process-has been developed by DR.. Kleiner,
of Zurich. The method is simple and rapid, and
is to be tested for year at works capable of turn
ing out at least 200 pounds pure metal per week.
The two elements of the process are the ore-cry-
oite, double fuoride of sodium and aluminium
and the power required to drive the dynamo; and
it is expected to produce aluminium at very much
less than half its present cost. Aluminium is very
abundant in combined state and its valuable
properties must bring it into extensive demand
when its preparation is sufficiently cheapened.
ARTIFICIAL TROPICS.
In the belief that modern science can command
climate, DR.. B. W. Richardson proposes that Brit
ish nvalids be given in their native isles the win
ter advantages of tropical resorts. This he would
accomplish by establishing winter homes, or health
saeR ssQRssang E az
baths, gymnasia, amusement halls, etc. Flower.
lined galleries, giving long promenades, would ex-
tend over the houses under glass roofs, while the
central enclosure would be shut in by an immense
arch of glass at great height above the ground
Suitable heating and ventilating apparatus would
give an equable and adjustable temperature to all
parts OF the structures, and any desired character
might be impaired to the climate. Even cloudy
days need not be known, electric suns could be
made to shine at pleasure. In many places winter
resorts on grander scale might be created by
putting whole valleys under roofs of glass; forming
parks of constant beauty and healthfulness
PLANTS PECULIAR TO CERTAIN SOILS.
Dr. H. w. Raymond lately called attention to
the reputed connection between certain plants and
the metals in the underlying soil. Thus tho zinc.
violet or Observation-Disclosures regarded as
distinct species under the name of Viola Gala
minaria-points out the hills containing calamine
or ENCORE, in Rhenish Prussia and Belgium. The
lead-plant, Amorpha canescens, is believed by
American miners to grow only in localities con-
tanning galena; and Eriogonum oralifolium is
probably destined to be known in the West as the
silver plant
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cotton has been successfully introduced into
three districts of the Caucasus and extensive plan
tatlons are to be established in the vicinity of
Erivan. The Caucasian Agricultural Society will
send agents to study the American system of Gull
ture.
On the first of May the Royal Geographical So
ciety of London numbered 1892 Fellows, and had
assets amounting to more than 5000, 900, besides
its library and map collections.
BY the use of palladium in the handspring and
balance, Geneva Matchmaker claims to have pro-
duced accurate time-pieces which are unaffected
>by magnetism.
An English mineralogst, Mr.. Bryce Wright,
gives the prices of iron in the form of meteorites
as from $15 or $40 pound to as much as $50 an
ounce. Some of the Russian meteorites are worth
go to S3o an ounce and the prices generally have
trebled in the last few years.
German physicists new air thermometer not
merely indicates but measures temperatures to
one en-thousandth of Centigrade degree
AT each equinox, says an astronomer, there are
about 1O2 hours that both poles have simultaneous
view of the sun or part of it, and for "a hours the
whole of its disc is visible to both. y n